Residents of Malakal have fled the town due to recent fighting within government forces, Upper Nile State officials have said.

Last week, soldiers under General Johnson Olony clashed with those loyal to state Governor Simon Kun Puoch.

The town is empty and houses destroyed. People have taken refuge in UN camps.

A state government delegation visited the area yesterday.

“We found it empty and there is no any citizen in the area. We didn’t see in Malakal anything except falcons that are eating bodies,” said Gatluak Liphoth, acting state Information Minister.

Mr Liphoth accused forces loyal to Gen Olony of ransacking the town.

“There are a lot of losses. When we checked on the houses in Malakal, we found nothing. They looted all the properties and they destroyed all the houses,” he added.

“The citizens will not come back unless the forces loyal to Olony leave Malakal – go back to their places.

But forces under General Olony have dismissed the allegations.

Col Pasquale John says their soldiers are not in Malakal town but National Security forces are providing security.

“I know the state government is accusing us but we don’t have any forces there. We left them there to protect the civilians and restore stability in the town. We are far away and the forces which are in Malakal for now are the national security,” Col

“We are urging the civilians to come back home and continue with their work as it was before.”

The clashes started on Tuesday last week after a dispute between bodyguards of the two leaders. The fighting lasted three days